New Diorama has announced that it will present no public programme for the rest of the year. The London studio will instead offer a moment of full artistic reset, aiming to rejuvenate theatre’s status quo.
Intervention 01 will call together the UK’s most exciting independent theatre companies to develop a bold slate of ambitious, risk-taking work. Aiming to break the current norm in short-term programming and artist development cycles, NDT has raised over £250,000 for artistic dreamtime, creative and production support, and funded R&D projects for 15 companies to take part – relieved of pressure for programming or immediate outcomes. Jerwood Arts’ financial support will be specifically for new companies outside of New Diorama’s current networks.
Outlining the mission and challenges ahead, Artistic Director David Byrne has published a personal statement, including a brief for artists wanting to join titled ‘Towards a New Movement In British Theatre’. The submissions window for artists is also now open and details of how to apply can be found here.
David Byrne said: ‘Post-pandemic, we promised to listen more and do better. The sheer catalytic energy required to ‘bring theatre back’ has left artists on the brink of burn-out and exhaustion. So New Diorama are going to do the most radical thing we can imagine: stop. Marking a once-in-a-generation moment, we’ll work behind the scenes to return in 2023 with a renewed artistic vision, a re-energised artist family, and our boldest-ever slate of work.’
Lilli Geissendorfer, Director of Jerwood Arts, said: “Intervention 01 will offer some of the most exciting ensemble-based theatre makers from across the UK a chance to reimagine their artistic practice and redefine what being a theatre company means. We have heard loud and clear the frustrations artists are feeling following the last few exceptionally challenging years, and are proud to be able to support new collaborative performance makers to benefit from NTD’s dedicated support and powerful belief that there must be better ways forward for creating exceptional theatre – and crucially, that it is artists themselves who hold the keys to this.”
Intervention 01 is supported by two creative partners, Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival – representing a new collaboration centred on artist support and opportunities to access its new Creative Space, Studio Theatre and mid-scale Corn Exchange – and NDT’s neighbouring creative hub Old Diorama Arts Centre, building on the two organisations’ close working relationship. Funding partners include Arts Council England National Lottery Project Grants, Jerwood Arts and the Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation.
Find out more
Find out more about Intervention 01, here.
Find out more about how to apply, here.
Read David Byrne’s personal statement on Intervention 01, here.
